THE GOVERNMENT OF UNION TERRITORIES ACT, 1963 
_______________ 

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
____________ 

 PART I 

PRELIMINARY 

SECTIONS  

1. Short title and commencement. 

2. Definitions and interpretation. 

  PART II 

 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLIES 

3. Legislative Assemblies for Union territories and their composition. 

4. Qualification for membership of Legislative Assembly. 

5. Duration of Legislative Assemblies. 

6. Sessions of Legislative Assembly, prorogation and dissolution. 

7. Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Legislative Assembly. 

8. Speaker or Deputy Speaker not to preside while a resolution for his removal from office is under 
    consideration. 

9. Right of Administrator to address and send messages to Legislative Assembly. 

10. Rights of Ministers as respects Legislative Assembly. 

11. Oath or affirmation by members. 

12. Voting in Assembly, power of Assembly to act notwithstanding vacancies and quorum. 

13. Vacation of seats. 

14. Disqualifications for membership. 

14A. Disqualification on ground of defection for being a member. 

15. Penalty for sitting and voting before making oath or affirmation or when not qualified or when        

disqualified. 

16. Powers, privileges, etc., of members. 

17. Salaries and allowances of members. 

18. Extent of legislative power. 

19.  Exemption of property of the Union from taxation. 

20. Restrictions or laws passed by Legislative Assembly with respect to certain matters. 

21. Inconsistency between laws made by Parliament and laws made by Legislative Assembly. 

22. Sanction of the Administrator required for certain legislative proposals.  

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SECTIONS 

  23. Special provisions as to financial Bills. 

  24. Procedure as to lapsing of Bills. 

  25. Assent to Bills. 

25A. Bills reserved for consideration. 

  26. Requirements as to sanctions and recommendations to be regarded as matters of procedure only. 

  27. Annual financial statement. 

  28. Procedure in Legislative Assembly with respect to estimates. 

  29. Appropriation Bills. 

  30. Supplementary, additional or excess grants. 

  31. Votes on account. 

  32. Authorisation of expenditure pending its sanction by Legislative Assembly. 

  33.  Rules of procedure. 

  34. Official language or languages of Union territory and language or languages to be used in    

Legislative Assembly thereof. 

  35. Language to be used for Acts, Bills, etc. 

  36. Restriction on discussion in the Legislative Assembly. 

  37. Courts not to inquire into proceedings of Legislative Assembly. 

PART III 

DELIMITATION OF CONSTITUENCIES 

38. Definitions. 

39. Assembly constituencies. 

40. Representation of Pondicherry in the House of the People. 

41. Duties of Delimitation Commission. 

42. Associate members. 

43. Procedure as to delimitation. 

43A. Special provision for delimitation of constituencies of Mizoram Legislative Assembly. 

43B. Representation of Arunachal Pradesh in the House of the People. 

      43C. Special provisions for delimitation of parliamentary constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh and 

constituencies of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly. 

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SECTIONS 

43D. Special provision for determination of constituencies in the Legislative Assembly of Goa, 
Daman and Diu for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. 

43E. Special provisions as to readjustment of territorial constituencies.  

43F. Special provision as to readjustment of territorial constituencies on the basis of 2001 census.  

PART IV 

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS 

44. Council of Ministers. 

45. Other provisions as to Ministers. 

46. Conduct of business.  

PART V  

MISCELLANEOUS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS 

47. Consolidated Fund of the Union territory. 

47A. Public Account of the Union territory and moneys credited to it. 

48. Contingency Fund of the Union territory. 

48A. Borrowing upon the security of the Consolidated Fund of the Union territory. 

48B. Form of accounts of the Union territory. 

49. Audit reports. 

50. Relation of Administrator and his Ministers to President. 

51. Provision in case of failure of constitutional machinery. 

52. Authorisation of expenditure by President. 

53. Provisions for election to Parliament from Goa, Daman and Diu, and Pondicherry. 

54. Transitional provisions for administration of justice in certain areas in the Union territory of  

Mizoram. 

54A. Provision as to provisional Legislative Assembly of Arunachal Pradesh. 

55. Contracts and suits. 

56. Power of President to remove difficulties. 

57. Amendment to certain enactments. 

58. Repeal and savings. 

    THE FIRST SCHEDULE. 

    THE SECOND SCHEDULE. 

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THE GOVERNMENT OF UNION TERRITORIES ACT, 1963 

ACT NO. 20 OF 1963 

[10th May, 1963.]  

An Act to provide for Legislative Assemblies and Councils of Ministers for certain Union 

territories and for certain other matters. 

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Fourteenth Year of the Republic of India as follows:―  

PART I 

PRELIMINARY 

1.  Short  title  and  commencement.―(1)  This  Act  may  be  called  the  Government  of  Union 

Territories Act, 1963.  

(2)  It  shall  come  into  force  on  such  date1  as  the  Central  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the 

Official Gazette, appoint:  

1.  13-5-1963,  vide  notification  No.  G.S.R.  814, dated  13-5-1963, in  respect  of  Part  I,  sections  3, 4  and  14  of  Part  II, Part  III, 
sections 53, 56 and 57 of Part V and First and Second Schedules as applicable to the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu, 
see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3(i). 

20-12-1963, vide notification. No. G.S.R 1922, dated 16-12-1963, in respect of remaining provisions of the Act applicable to 
the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3(i). 

17-2-1972, vide notification No. G.S.R. 81(E), dated 16-2-1972, in respect of sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 14, 38, 43A and 56 of the Act 
shall come into force in the Union territory of Mizoram, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3(i). 

 3-5-1972, vide notification No. G.S.R. 269(E), dated 30-4-1972, in respect of all the provisions of the Act, other than those 
which have already come into force in the Union territory of Mizoram, shall, so far as they are applicable, come into force in 
that Union territory, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3(i). 

13-5-1963, vide notification. No. G.S.R. 815, dated 13-5-1963, in respect of Part I, sections 53, 56 and 57 of Part V and the 
Second Schedule in the Union territory of Pondicherry, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3(i). 

 1-7-1963,  vide  notification  No.  G.S.R.  1025,  dated  15-6-1963,  for  the  remaining  provisions  came  into  force  in  the  Union 
territory of Pondicherry, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3(i). 

1-7-1963, vide notification No. S.O. 1660, dated 14-6-1963, in respect of all the provisions in the Union territories of Himachal 
Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura, and so much of the provisions as apply  to the Union territory of Delhi,  see Gazette of India, 
Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3(ii). 

1-7-1963, vide notification No. G.S.R. 1025, dated 15-6-1963, in respect of the provisions as apply to the Union territory of 
Dadra and Nagar Haveli, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3(i). 

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 1[Provided that it shall come into force in the Union territory of Mizoram on such date, being a date not 
earlier than the date of commencement of the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Act, 1971 
(83 of 1971), as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint:]  

 2[Provided further that it shall come into force in the Union territory of Arunachal Pradesh on such 
date,  being  a  date  not  earlier  than  the  date  of  commencement  of  the  Government  of  Union  Territories 
(Amendment)  Act,  1975  (29  of  1975),  as  the  Central  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the  Official 
Gazette, appoint:]  

3[Provided also that, subject to the preceding provisos,] different dates may be appointed for different 
provisions of this Act and for different Union territories and any reference in any such  provision to the 
commencement of this Act shall be construed as a reference to the coming into force of that provision.  

2. Definitions and interpretation.―(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,― 

(a) “Administrator” means the administrator of 4[the Union territory] appointed by the President 

under artcle 239;  

(b) “article” means an article of the Constitution;  

(c)  “assembly  constituency”  means  a  constituency  provided  under  this  Act  for  the  purpose  of 

elections to the Legislative Assembly of 4[the Union territory];  

(d)  “Election  Commission”  means  the  Election  Commission  appointed  by  the  President  under 

article 324;  

(e) “Judicial Commissioner” includes an Additional Judicial Commissioner;  

(f)  “scheduled  castes”  in  relation  to  4[the  Union  territory]  means  such  castes,  races  or  tribes  or 
parts of or groups within such castes, races or tribes as are deemed under article 341 to be scheduled 
castes in relation to that Union territory;  

(g) “scheduled tribes” in relation to 4[the Union territory] means such tribes or tribal communities 
or parts of or groups within such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed under article 342 to be 
scheduled tribes in relation to that Union territory; 

5[(h) “Union territory” means the Union territory of 6[Puducherry].  

(2) Any reference in this Act to laws made by Parliament shall be construed as including a reference 
to Ordinances promulgated by the President under article 123 and a reference to Regulations made by the 
President under article 240. 

1. Ins. by Act 83 of 1971, s. 2 (w.e.f. 16-2-1972). 
2. Ins. by Act 29 of 1975, s. 2 (w.e.f. 15-8-1975). 
3. Subs. by s. 2, ibid., for “Provided further that” (w.e.f. 15-8-1975). 
4. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 
5. Subs. by s. 65, ibid., for clause (h) (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 
6. Subs. by Act 44 of 2006, s. 7, for “Pondicherry” (w.e.f. 1-10-2006). 

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PART II 

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLIES 

3.  Legislative  Assemblies  for  Union  territories  and  their  composition.―(1)  There  shall  be  a 

Legislative Assembly for each Union territory.  

1[(2) The total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of  2[the Union territory] to be filled by 

persons chosen by direct election shall be thirty.]  

(3)  The  Central  Government  may  nominate  not  more  than  three  persons,  not  being  persons  in  the 

service of Government, to be members of the Legislative Assembly of 2[the Union territory].  

3[(4)  Seats  shall  be  reserved  for  the  Scheduled  Castes  in  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  the  Union 

territory.]  

(5) The number of seats reserved for the scheduled castes or the scheduled tribes in the Legislative 
Assembly  of  2[the  Union  territory]  under  sub-section  (4)  shall  bear,  as  nearly  as  may  be,  the  same 
proportion to the total number of seats in the Assembly as the population of the scheduled castes in the 
Union territory or of the scheduled tribes in the Union territory, as the case may be, in respect of which 
seats are so reserved, bears to the total population of the Union territory.  

4[Explanation.―In this sub-section, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained 

at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published:  

Provided  that  the  reference  in  this  Explanation  to  the  last  preceding  census  of  which  the  relevant 
figures have been published shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 5[2026] 
5[2026] have been published, be construed as a reference to the 6[2001] census.]  

7[(6) Notwithstanding anything in sub-section (4), the reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes in 
in the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory shall cease to have effect on the same date on which 
the  reservation  of  seats  for  the  Scheduled  Castes  in  the  House  of  the  People  shall  cease  to  have  effect 
under article 334:  

Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall affect any representation in the Legislative Assembly 

of the Union territory until the dissolution of the then existing Assembly.] 

4. Qualification for membership of Legislative Assembly.―A person shall not be qualified to be 

chosen to fill a seat in the Legislative Assembly of 2[the Union territory] unless he— 

(a) is a citizen of India and makes and subscribes before some person authorised in that behalf by 
the Election Commission an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the 
First Schedule;  

(b) is not less than twenty-five years of age; and  

(c) possesses such other qualifications as may be prescribed in that behalf by or under any law. 

1. Subs. by the State of Himachal Pradesh (Adaptation of Laws on Union Subjects) Order, 1973, for sub-section (2) (w.e.f. 25-1-1971). 
2. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 
3. Subs. by s. 65, ibid., for sub-section (4) (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 
4. The Explanation ins. by Act 19 of 1984, s. 2 (w.e.f. 8-5-1984). 
5. Subs. by Act 19 of 2005, s. 2, for “2000” (w.e.f. 21-5-2005). 
6. Subs. by s. 2, ibid., for “1971”(w.e.f. 21-5-2005). 
7. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for sub-section (6) (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 

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5. Duration of Legislative Assemblies.―The Legislative Assembly of  1[the Union territory], unless 
sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer, 
and the expiration of the said period of five years shall operate as a dissolution of the Assembly: 

Provided  that  the  said  period  may,  while  a  Proclamation  of  Emergency  issued  under  clause  (1)  of 
article 352 is in operation, be extended by the President by order for a period not exceeding one year at a 
time and not extending in any case beyond a period of six months after the Proclamation has ceased to 
operate. 

6.  Sessions  of  Legislative  Assembly,  prorogation  and  dissolution.―(1)  The  Administrator  shall, 
from time to time, summon the Legislative Assembly to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit, but 
six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first 
sitting in the next session.  

(2) The Administrator may, from time to time,―  

(a) prorogue the Assembly;  

(b) dissolve the Assembly. 

7.  Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Legislative Assembly.―(1) Every Legislative Assembly shall, 
as soon as may be, choose two members of the Assembly to be respectively Speaker and Deputy Speaker 
thereof  and,  so  often  as  the  office  of  Speaker  or  Deputy  Speaker  becomes  vacant,  the  Assembly  shall 
choose another member to be Speaker or Deputy Speaker, as the case may be.  

(2) A member holding office as Speaker or Deputy Speaker of an Assembly— 

(a) shall vacate his office if he ceases to be a member of the Assembly; 

(b) may at any time by writing under his hand addressed, if such member is the Speaker, to the 

Deputy Speaker, and if such member is the Deputy Speaker, to the Speaker, resign his office; 

(c) may be removed from his office by a resolution of the Assembly passed by a majority of all 

the then members of the Assembly:  

Provided that no resolution for the purpose of clause (c) shall be moved unless at least fourteen days’ 

notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution:  

Provided further that whenever the Assembly is dissolved, the Speaker shall not vacate his office until 

immediately before the first meeting of the Assembly after the dissolution.  

(3) While the office of Speaker is vacant, the duties of the office shall be performed by the Deputy 
Speaker or, if the office of Deputy Speaker is also vacant, by such member of the Assembly as may be 
determined by the rules of procedure of the Assembly.  

(4) During the absence of the Speaker from any sitting of the Assembly, the Deputy Speaker, or, if he 
is also absent, such person as may be determined by the rules of procedure of the Assembly, or, if no such 
person is present, such other person as may be determined by the Assembly, shall act as Speaker.  

1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 

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(5)  There  shall  be  paid  to  the  Speaker  and  the  Deputy  Speaker  of  the  Legislative  Assembly  such 
salaries and allowances as may be respectively fixed by the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory 
by law and, until provision in that behalf is so made, such salaries and allowances as the Administrator 
may, with the approval of the President, by order determine. 

8. Speaker or Deputy Speaker not to preside while a resolution for his removal from office is 
under  consideration.―(1)  At  any  sitting  of  the  Legislative  Assembly,  while  any  resolution  for  the 
removal of the Speaker from his office is under consideration, the Speaker, or while any resolution for the 
removal  of  the  Deputy  Speaker  from  his  office  is  under  consideration,  the  Deputy  Speaker,  shall  not, 
though he is present, preside and the provisions of sub-section (4) of section 7 shall apply in relation to 
every such sitting as they apply in relation to a sitting from which the Speaker or, as the case may be, the 
Deputy Speaker is absent.  

(2) The Speaker shall have the right to speak in, and otherwise to take part in the proceedings of, the 
Legislative  Assembly  while  any  resolution  for  his  removal  from  office  is  under  consideration  in  the 
Assembly and shall, notwithstanding anything in section 12, be entitled to vote only in the first instance 
on such resolution or on any other matter during such proceedings but not in the case of an equality of 
votes. 

9.  Right  of  Administrator  to  address  and  send  messages  to  Legislative  Assembly.―(1)  The 
Administrator may address the Legislative Assembly and may for that purpose require the attendance of 
members.  

(2) The Administrator may also send messages to the Assembly whether with respect to a Bill then 
pending  in  the  Assembly  or  otherwise,  and  when  a  message  is  so  sent,  the  Assembly  shall  with  all 
convenient dispatch consider any matter required by the message to be taken into consideration. 

10. Rights of Ministers as respects Legislative Assembly.― Every Minister shall have the right to 
speak in, and otherwise to take part in the proceedings of, the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory, 
and  to  speak  in,  and  otherwise  to  take  part  in  the  proceedings  of,  any  committee  of  the  Legislative 
Assembly of which he may be named a member, but shall not by virtue of this section be entitled to vote. 

11. Oath or affirmation by members.― Every member of the Legislative Assembly of 1[the Union 
territory]  shall,  before  taking  his  seat,  make  and  subscribe  before  the  Administrator,  or  some  person 
appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the 
First Schedule. 

12. Voting in Assembly, power of Assembly to act notwithstanding vacancies and quorum.―(1) 
Save as otherwise provided in this Act, all questions at any sitting of the Legislative Assembly of  1[the 
Union territory] shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting other than 
the Speaker or person acting as such.  

(2) The Speaker or person acting as such shall not vote in the first instance but shall have and exercise 

a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes. 

1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65 for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 

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(3) The Legislative Assembly of  1[the Union territory] shall have power to act notwithstanding any 
vacancy  in  the  membership  thereof,  and  any  proceedings  in  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  1[the  Union 
territory] shall be valid notwithstanding that it is discovered subsequently that some person who was not 
entitled so to do, sat or voted or otherwise took part in the proceedings. 

(4) The quorum to constitute a meeting of the Legislative Assembly of 1[the Union territory] shall be 

one-third of the total number of members of the Assembly.  

(5) If at any time during a meeting of the Legislative Assembly of  1[the Union territory] there is no 
quorum, it shall be the duty of the Speaker, or person acting as such, either to adjourn the Assembly or to 
suspend the meeting until there is a quorum. 

13. Vacation of seats.―(1) No person shall be a member both of Parliament and of the Legislative 
Assembly of  1[the Union territory] and if a person is chosen a member both of Parliament and of such 
Assembly, then, at the expiration of such period as may be specified in the rules made by the President, 
that  person’s  seat  in  Parliament  shall  become  vacant,  unless  he  has  previously  resigned  his  seat  in  the 
Legislative Assembly of the Union territory.  

(2) If a member of the Legislative Assembly of 1[the Union territory]— 

(a)  becomes  subject  to  any  disqualification  mentioned  in  2[section  14  or  section  14A]  for 

membership of the Assembly, or  

(b) resigns his seat by writing under his hand addressed to the Speaker, 

his seat shall thereupon become vacant.  

(3)  If  for  a  period  of  sixty  days  a  member  of  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  1[the  union  territory]  is 
without permission of the Assembly absent from all meetings thereof, the Assembly may declare his seat 
vacant: 

Provided  that  in  computing  the  said  period  of  sixty  days,  no  account  shall  be  taken  of  any  period 

during which the Assembly is prorogued or is adjourned for more than four consecutive days. 

14. Disqualifications for membership.― (1) A person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and 

for being, a member of the Legislative Assembly of 1[the Union territory]— 

 (a) if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State 
or the Government of  3[the Union territory] other than an office declared by law made by Parliament 
or by the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory not to disqualify its holder; or 

(b) if he is for the time being disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a member of either 
House of Parliament under the provisions of sub-clause (b), sub-clause (c) or sub-clause (d) of clause 
(1) of article 102 or of any law made in pursuance of that article.  

(2) For the purposes of this section, a person shall not be deemed to hold an office of profit under the 
Government  of  India  or  the  Government  of  any  State  or  the  Government  of  3[the  Union  territory]  by 
reason only that he is a Minister either for the Union or for such State or Union territory.  

1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 
2. Subs. by Act 24 of 1985, s. 2, for “section 14” (w.e.f. 29-3-1985). 
3. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “any Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 

9 

 
                                                           
(3)  If  any  question  arises  as  to  whether  a  member  of  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  1[the  Union 
territory] has become disqualified for being such a member under the provisions of sub-section (1), the 
question shall be referred for the decision of the President and his decision shall be final. 

(4)  Before  giving  any  decision  on  any  such  question,  the  President  shall  obtain  the  opinion  of  the 

Election Commission and shall act according to such opinion.  

2[14A. Disqualification on ground of defection for being a member.―The provisions of the Tenth 
Schedule  to  the  Constitution  shall,  subject  to  the  necessary  modifications  (including  modifications  for 
construing references therein to the Legislative Assembly of a State, article 188, article 194 and article 
212 as references, respectively, to the Legislative Assembly of  1[the Union territory], section 11, section 
16 and section 37 of this Act), apply to and in relation to the members of the Legislative Assembly of 
1[the Union territory] as they apply to and in relation to the members of the Legislative Assembly of a 
State, and accordingly,― 

(a) the said Tenth Schedule as so modified shall be deemed to form part of this Act; and  
(b) a person shall be disqualified for being a member of the Legislative Assembly of  1[the Union 

territory] if he is so disqualified under the said Tenth Schedule as so modified.] 

15. Penalty for sitting and voting before making oath or affirmation or when not qualified or 
when  disqualified.―If  a person  sits  or  votes  as  a  member  of the  Legislative  Assembly  of  1[the  Union 
territory]  before  he  has  complied  with  the  requirements  of  section  11  or  when he  knows  that  he  is  not 
qualified or that  he is  disqualified for  membership  thereof,  he  shall  be  liable in  respect  of  each day  on 
which he so sits or votes to a penalty of five hundred rupees to be recovered as a debt due to the Union. 

16. Powers, privileges, etc., of members.―(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and to the rules 
and  standing  orders  regulating  the  procedure  of  the  Legislative  Assembly,  there  shall  be  freedom  of 
speech in the Legislative Assembly of 3[the Union territory].  

(2)  No  member  of  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  1[the  Union  territory]  shall  be  liable  to  any 
proceedings  in  any  court in  respect  of anything  said or  any  vote  given  by  him  in  the  Assembly  or  any 
committee thereof, and no person shall be so liable in respect of the publication by or under the authority 
of such Assembly of any report, paper, votes or proceedings.  

(3)  In  other  respects,  the  powers,  privileges  and  immunities  of  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  1[the 
Union territory] and of the members and the committees thereof shall be such as are for the time being 
enjoyed by the House of the People and its members and committees. 

(4) The provisions of sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) shall apply in relation to persons who by virtue of 
this  Act  have  the  right  to  speak  in,  and  otherwise  to  take  part  in  the  proceedings  of,  the  Legislative 
Assembly of 1[the Union territory] or any committee thereof as they apply in relation to members of that 
Assembly. 

 17.  Salaries  and  allowances  of members.―Members  of  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  1[the  Union 
territory] shall be entitled to receive such salaries and allowances as may from time to time be determined 
by the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory by law and, until provision in that behalf is so made, 

1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987).  
2. Ins. by Act 24 of 1985, s. 3 (w.e.f. 29-3-1985).  
3. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65 for “every Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 

10 

 
 
                                                           
such  salaries  and  allowances  as  the  Administrator  may,  with  the  approval  of  the  President,  by  order 
determine.  

18. Extent of legislative power.―(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Legislative Assembly 
of  1[the Union territory] may make laws for the whole or any part of the Union territory with respect to 
any  of  the  matters  enumerated  in  the  State  List  or  the  Concurrent  List  in  the  Seventh  Schedule  to  the 
Constitution in so far as any such matter is applicable in relation to Union territories.  

(2)  Nothing  in  sub-section  (1)  shall  derogate  from  the  powers  conferred  on  Parliament  by  the 

Constitution to make laws with respect to any matter for 1[the Union territory] or any part thereof. 

19. Exemption of property of the Union from taxation.―The property of the Union shall, save in 
so far as Parliament may by law otherwise provide, be exempted from all taxes imposed by or under any 
law made by the Legislative Assembly of  1[the Union territory] or by or under any other law in force in 
1[the Union territory]:  

Provided that nothing in this section shall, until Parliament by law otherwise provides, prevent any 
authority within  1[the Union territory] from levying any tax on any property of the Union to which such 
property was immediately before the commencement of the Constitution liable or treated as liable, so long 
as that tax continues to be levied in that Union territory. 

20.  Restrictions  or laws passed  by  Legislative  Assembly with respect  to  certain matters.―2[1] 
The provisions of article 286, article 287 and article 288 shall apply in relation to any law passed by the 
Legislative  Assembly  of  1[the  Union  territory]  with  respect  to  any  of  the  matters  referred  to  in  those 
articles  as  they  apply  in  relation  to  any  law  passed  by  the  Legislature  of  a  State  with  respect  to  those 
matters.  

3[(2) The provisions of article 304 shall, with the necessary modifications, apply in relation to any law 
passed by the Legislative Assembly of 1[the Union territory] with respect to any of the matters referred to 
in that article as they apply in relation to any law passed by the Legislature of a State with respect to those 
matters.] 

4[21.  Inconsistency  between  laws  made  by  Parliament  and  laws  made  by  Legislative 
Assembly.―If any provision of a law made by the Legislative Assembly of  1[the Union territory] with 
respect  to  any  matter  enumerated  in  the  State  List  in  the  Seventh  Schedule  to  the  Constitution  is 
repugnant  to  any  provision  of  a  law  made  by  Parliament  with  respect  to  that  matter,  whether  passed 
before or after the law made by the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory, or, if any provision of a 
law made by the Legislative Assembly of 1[the Union territory] with respect to any matter enumerated in 
the  Concurrent  List  in  the  Seventh  Schedule  to  the  Constitution  is  repugnant  to  any  provision  of  any 
earlier law, other than a law made by the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory, with respect to that 
matter,  then, in  either case,  the law  made  by  Parliament,  or,  as the case  may  be,  such  earlier law  shall 
prevail and the law made  by the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory shall, to the extent of the 
repugnancy, be void:  

1.  Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987).   
2. Secton 20 renumbered as sub-section (1) thereof by Act 83 of 1971, s. 5 (w.e.f. 16-2-1972). 
3. Ins. by s. 5, ibid. (w.e.f. 16-2-1972). 
4. Subs. by Act 29 of 1975, s. 4, for section 21 (w.e.f. 15-8-1975). 
11 

 
                                                           
Provided that if such law made by the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory has been reserved 
for  the  consideration  of  the  President  and  has  received  his  assent,  such  law  shall  prevail  in  that  Union 
territory:  

Provided further that nothing in this section shall prevent Parliament from enacting at any time any 
law with respect to the same matter including a law adding to, amending, varying or repealing the law so 
made by the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory.] 

22.  Sanction  of  the  administrator  required  for  certain  legislative  proposals.―No  Bill  or 
amendment  shall  be  introduced  into,  or  moved  in,  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  1[the  Union  territory] 
without  the  previous  sanction  of  the  Administrator,  if  such  Bill  or  Amendment  makes  provision  with 
respect to any of the following matters, namely:―  

(a) constitution and organisation of the court of the Judicial Commissioner; 

(b)  jurisdiction  and  powers  of  the  court  of  the  Judicial  Commissioner  with  respect  to  any  of  the 

matters in the State List or the Concurrent List in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution. 

23. Special provisions as to financial Bills.―(1) A Bill or amendment shall not be introduced into, 
or  moved  in,  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  1[the  Union  territory]  except  on  the  recommendation  of  the 
Administrator, if such Bill or Amendment makes provision for any of the following matters, namely:―  

(a) the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax; 

(b)  the  amendment  of  the  law  with  respect  to  any  financial  obligations  undertaken  or  to  be 

undertaken by the Government of the Union territory; 

(c) the appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of the Union territory; 

(d) the declaring of any expenditure to be expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of the 

Union territory or the increasing of the amount of any such expenditure; 

2[(e)  the  receipt  of  money  on  account  of  the  Consolidated  Fund  of  the  Union  territory  or  the 
public account of the Union territory or the custody or issue of such money or the audit of the account 
of the Union territory]: 

Provided  that  no  recommendation  shall  be  required  under  this  sub-section  for  the  moving  of  an 

amendment making provision for the reduction or abolition of any tax. 

(2) A Bill or Amendment shall not be deemed to make provision for any of the matters aforesaid by 
reason only that it provides for the imposition of fines or other pecuniary penalties, or for the demand or 
payment of fees for licences or fees for services rendered, or by reason that it provides for the imposition, 
abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax by any local authority or body for local purposes.  

(3)  A  Bill  which,  if  enacted  and  brought  into  operation,  would  involve  expenditure  from  the 
Consolidated Fund of 1[the Union territory] shall not be passed by the Legislative Assembly of the Union 
territory unless the Administrator has recommended to that Assembly the consideration of the Bill. 

1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987).    
2. Subs. by Act 38 of 2001, s. 2, for clause (e) (w.e.f. 10-5-2006). 
12 

 
 
                                                           
24. Procedure as to lapsing of Bills.―(1) A Bill pending in the Legislative Assembly of 1[the Union 

territory] shall not lapse by reason of the prorogation of the Assembly. 

 (2)  A  Bill  which  is  pending  in  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  1[the  Union  territory]  shall  lapse  on  a 

dissolution of the Assembly. 

 2[25.  Assent  to  Bills.―When  a  Bill  has  been  passed  by  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  1[the  Union 
territory],  it  shall  be  presented  to  the  Administrator  and  the  Administrator  shall  declare  either  that  he 
assents to the Bill or that he withholds assent therefrom or that he reserves the Bill for the consideration 
of the President:  

Provided that the Administrator may, as soon as possible after the presentation of the Bill to him for 
assent, return the Bill if it is not a Money Bill together with a message requesting that the Assembly will 
reconsider the Bill or any specified provisions thereof, and, in particular, will consider the desirability of 
introducing any such amendments as he may recommend in his message and, when a Bill is so returned, 
the  Assembly  will  reconsider  the  Bill  accordingly,  and  if  the  Bill  is  passed  again  with  or  without 
amendment and presented to the Administrator for assent, the Administrator shall declare either that he 
assents to the Bill or that he reserves the Bill for the consideration of the President:  

Provided further that the Administrator shall not assent to, but shall reserve for the consideration of 

the President, any Bill which,― 

(a) in the opinion of the Administrator would, if it became law, so derogate from the powers of 
the High Court as to endanger the position which that Court is, by the Constitution, designed to fill; or  

(b) relates to any of the matters specified in clause (1) of article 31A; or  

(c) the President may, by order, direct to be reserved for his consideration; or  

(d)  relates  to  matters  referred  to  in  sub-section  (5)  or  section  7  or  section  17  or  section  34  or  
sub-section (6) of section 45 or in entry 1 or entry 2 of the State List in the Seventh Schedule to the 
Constitution:  

Provided also that without prejudice to the provisions of the second proviso, the Administrator shall 
not assent to, but shall reserve for the consideration of the President, any Bill which has been passed by 
the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Mizoram and which relates to any area comprised in 
any autonomous district in that Union territory under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution. 

Explanation.―For the purposes of this section and section 25A, a Bill shall be deemed to be a Money 
Bill  if  it  contains  only  provisions  dealing  with  all  or  any  of  the  matters  specified  in  sub-section  (1)  of 
section 23 or any matter incidental to any of those matters and, in either case, there is endorsed thereon 
the certificate of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly signed by him that it is a Money Bill.  

25A.  Bills  reserved  for  consideration.―When  a  Bill  is  reserved  by  an  Administrator  for  the 
consideration  of  the  President,  the  President  shall  declare  either  that  he  assents  to  the  Bill  or  that  he 
withholds assent therefrom:  

1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 
2. Subs. by Act 83 of 1971, s. 7, for section 25 (w.e.f. 16-2-1972). 
13 

 
 
                                                           
Provided that where the Bill is not a Money Bill, the President may direct the Administrator to return 
the Bill to the Legislative Assembly together with such a message as is mentioned in the first proviso to 
section 25 and, when a Bill is so returned, the Assembly shall reconsider it accordingly within a period of 
six months from the date of receipt of such message and, if it is again passed by the Assembly with or 
without amendment, it shall be presented again to the President for his consideration.]  

26. Requirements as to sanction and recommendations to be regarded as matters of procedure 
only.―No Act of the Legislative Assembly of  1[the Union territory] and no provision in any such Act, 
shall be invalid by reason only that some previous sanction or recommendation required by this Act was 
not  given,  if  assent  to  that  Act  was  given  2[by  the  Administrator,  or,  on  being  reserved  by  the 
Administrator for the consideration of the President, by the President]. 

27. Annual financial statement.―(1) The Administrator of each Union territory shall in respect of 
every  financial  year  cause  to  be  laid  before  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  the  Union  territory,  with  the 
previous  approval  of  the  President,  a  statement  of  the  estimated  receipts  and  expenditure  of  the  Union 
territory for that year, in this Part referred to as the “annual financial statement”. 

 (2) The estimates of expenditure embodied in the annual financial statement shall show separately— 

(a) the sums required to meet expenditure described by this Act as expenditure charged upon the 

Consolidated Fund of the Union territory, and  

(b) the sums required to meet other expenditure proposed to be made from the Consolidated Fund 

of the Union territory;  

and shall distinguish expenditure on revenue account from other expenditure. 

(3) The following expenditure shall be expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of each Union 

territory:― 

 (a)  the  emoluments  and  allowances  of  the  Administrator  and  other  expenditure  relating  to  his 

office as determined by the President by general or special order;  

(b) the charges payable in respect of loans advanced to the Union territory from the Consolidated 
Fund of India including interest, sinking fund charges and redemption charges, and other expenditure 
connected therewith; 

 (c)  the  salaries  and  allowances  of  the  Speaker  and  the  Deputy  Speaker  of  the  Legislative 

Assembly;  

(d) expenditure in respect of the salaries and allowances of a Judicial Commissioner;  

(e) any sums required to satisfy any judgment, decree or award of any court or arbitral tribunal; 

 (f) expenditure incurred by the Administrator in the discharge of his special responsibility; 

 (g) any other expenditure declared by the Constitution or by law made by Parliament or by the 

Legislative Assembly of the Union territory to be so charged. 

1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 
2. Subs. by Act 29 of 1975, s. 5, for “by the President” (w.e.f. 15- 8-1975). 

14 

 
                                                           
28. Procedure in Legislative Assembly with respect to estimates.―(1) So much of the estimates as 
relates to expenditure charged upon the Consolidated Fund of 1[the Union territory] shall not be submitted 
to the vote of the Legislative Assembly of  1[the Union territory], but nothing in this sub-section shall be 
construed as preventing the discussion in the Legislative Assembly of any of those estimates.  

(2)  So  much  of  the  said  estimates  as  relates  to  other expenditure  shall  be  submitted  in  the  form  of 
demands for grants to the Legislative Assembly, and the Legislative Assembly shall have power to assent, 
or to refuse to assent, to any demand, or to assent to any demand subject to a reduction of the amount 
specified therein.  

(3) No demand for a grant shall be made except on the recommendation of the Administrator. 

29. Appropriation Bills.―(1) As soon as may be after the grants under section 28 have been made 
by the Assembly, there shall be introduced a Bill to provide for the appropriation out of the Consolidated 
Fund of the Union territory of all moneys required to meet— 

(a) the grants so made by the Assembly, and  

(b) the expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of the Union territory but not exceeding in 

any case the amount shown in the statement previously laid before the Assembly.  

(2) No amendment shall be proposed to any such Bill in the Legislative Assembly which will have the 
effect of varying the amount or altering the destination of any grant so made or of varying the amount of 
any expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of the Union territory and the decision of the person 
presiding as to whether an amendment is inadmissible under this sub-section shall be final.  

(3) Subject to the other provisions of this Act, no money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated 
Fund  of  the  Union  territory  except  under  appropriation  made  by  law  passed  in  accordance  with  the 
provisions of this section. 

30. Supplementary, additional or excess grants.―(1) The Administrator shall— 

(a) if the amount authorised by any law made in accordance with the provisions of section 29 to 
be expended for a particular service for the current financial year is found to be insufficient for the 
purposes of that year or when a need has arisen during the current financial year for supplementary or 
additional expenditure upon some new service not contemplated in the annual financial statement for 
that year, or  

(b) if any money has been spent on any service during a financial year in excess of the amount 

granted for that service and for that year,  

cause to be laid before the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory, with the previous approval of the 
President, another statement showing the estimated amount of that expenditure or cause to be presented to 
the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory with such previous approval a demand for such excess, as 
the case may be.  

(2) The provisions of sections 27, 28 and 29 shall have effect in relation to any such statement and 
expenditure or demand and also to any law to be made authorising the appropriation of moneys out of the 

1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 

15 

 
                                                           
Consolidated Fund of the Union territory to meet such expenditure or the grant in respect of such demand 
as they have effect in relation to the annual financial statement and the expenditure mentioned therein or 
to a demand for a grant and the law to be made for the authorisation of appropriation of moneys out of the 
Consolidated Fund of the Union territory to meet such expenditure or grant. 

31.  Votes  on  account.―(1)  Notwithstanding  anything  in  the  foregoing  provisions  of  this  Part,  the 
Legislative Assembly of 1[the Union territory] shall have power to make any grant in advance in respect 
of  the  estimated  expenditure  for  a  part  of  any  financial  year  pending  the  completion  of  the  procedure 
prescribed in section 28 for the voting of such grant and the passing of the law in accordance with the 
provisions of section 29 in relation to that expenditure and the Legislative Assembly shall have power to 
authorise  by  law  the  withdrawal  of  moneys  from  the  Consolidated  Fund  of  the  Union  territory  for  the 
purposes for which the said grant is made.  

(2) The provisions of sections 28 and 29 shall have effect in relation to the making of any grant under 
sub-section  (1)  or  to  any  law  to  be  made  under  that  sub-section  as  they  have  effect  in  relation  to  the 
making of a grant with regard to any expenditure mentioned in the annual financial statement and the law 
to be made for the authorisation of appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of the Union 
territory to meet such expenditure. 

32.  Authorisation  of  expenditure  pending 

its  sanction  by  Legislative  Assembly.― 
Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Part, the Administrator may authorise such 
expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of the Union territory as he deems necessary for a period of not 
more than six months beginning with the date of the constitution of the Consolidated Fund of the Union 
territory, pending the sanction of such expenditure by the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory. 

33. Rules of procedure.―(1) The Legislative Assembly of 1[the Union territory] may make rules for 

regulating, subject to the provisions of this Act, its procedure and the conduct of its business:  

Provided that the Administrator shall, after consultation with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly 

and with the approval of the President, make rules— 

(a) for securing the timely completion of financial business;  

(b) for regulating the procedure of, and the conduct of business in, the Legislative Assembly in 
relation to any financial matter or to any Bill for the appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated 
Fund of the Union territory;  

(c) for prohibiting the discussion of, or the asking of questions on, any matter which affects the 
discharge  of  the  functions  of  the  Administrator  in  so  far  as  he  is  required  by  this  Act  to  act  in  his 
discretion.  

(2) Until rules are made under sub-section (1), the rules of procedure and standing orders with respect 
to the Legislative Assembly of the State of Uttar Pradesh in force immediately before the commencement 
of this Act in 2[the Union territory] shall have effect in relation to the Legislative Assembly of that Union 
territory subject to such modifications and adaptations as may be made therein by the Administrator:  

1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 
2. Subs. by s. 65, ibid., for “any Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 

16 

 
                                                           
1*    

*  

*  

* 

 * 

34. Official language or languages of Union territory and language or languages  to be used in 
Legislative  Assembly  thereof.―(1)  The  Legislative  Assembly  of  2[the  Union  territory]  may  by  law 
adopt any one or more of the languages in use in the Union territory or Hindi as the official language or 
languages to be used for all or any of the official purposes of the Union territory:  

Provided  that  so  long  as  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  the  Union  territory  of  Pondicherry  does  not 
decide  otherwise,  the  French  language  shall  continue  to  be  used  as  an  official  language  of  that  Union 
territory for the same official purposes for which it was being used in that territory immediately before the 
commencement of this Act:  

Provided further that the President may by order direct— 

(i) that the official language of the Union shall be adopted for such of the official purposes of the 

Union territory as may be specified in the order;  

(ii)  that  any  other  language  shall  also  be  adopted  throughout  the  Union  territory  or  such  part 
thereof for such of the official purposes of the Union territory as may be specified in the order, if the 
President is satisfied that a substantial proportion of the population of the Union territory desires the 
use of that other language for all or any of such purposes.  

(2)  The  business  in  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  2[the  Union  territory]  shall  be  transacted  in  the 

official language or languages of the Union territory or in Hindi or in English:  

Provided that the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly or person acting as such, as the case may be, 
may  permit  any  member  who  cannot  adequately  express  himself  in  any  of  the  languages  aforesaid  to 
address the Assembly in his mother-tongue. 

35.  Language  to  be  used for  Acts,  Bills,  etc.―Notwithstanding  anything  contained in  section  34, 

until Parliament by law otherwise provides, the authoritative texts— 

(a) of all Bills to be introduced or amendments thereto to be moved in the Legislative Assembly 

of  2[the Union territory],  

(b) of all Acts passed by the Legislative Assembly of 2[the Union territory], and  

(c) of all orders, rules, regulations and bye-laws issued under any law made by the Legislative 

Assembly of 2[the Union territory], 

shall be in the English language:  

Provided that where the Legislative Assembly of  2[the Union territory] has prescribed any language 
other  than  the  English  language  for  use  in  Bills  introduced  in,  or  Acts  passed  by,  the  Legislative 
Assembly of the Union territory or in any order, rule, regulation or bye-law issued under any law made by 
the  Legislative  Assembly  of  the  Union  territory,  a  translation  of  the  same  in  the  English  language 
published  under  the  authority  of  the  Administrator  in  the  Official  Gazette  shall  be  deemed  to  be  the 
authoritative text thereof in the English language. 

1. The proviso omitted by Act 69 of 1986, s. 44 (w.e.f. 20-2-1987). 
2. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                           
36. Restriction on discussion in the Legislative Assembly.―No discussion shall take place in the 
Legislative Assembly of 1[the Union territory] with respect to the conduct of any Judicial Commissioner 
or of any judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court in the discharge of his duties. 

37.  Courts  not  to  inquire  into  proceedings  of  Legislative  Assembly.―(1)  The  validity  of  any 
proceedings in the Legislative Assembly of  1[the Union territory] shall not be called in question on the 
ground of any alleged irregularity of procedure.  

(2) No officer or member of the Legislative Assembly of  1[the Union territory] in whom powers are 
vested by or under this Act for regulating procedure or the conduct of business, or for maintaining order 
in the Legislative Assembly shall be subject to the jurisdiction of any court in respect of the exercise by 
him of those powers.  

PART III 

DELIMITATION OF CONSTITUENCIES 

38. Definitions.―In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,―  

(a)  “associate  member”  means  a  member  associated  with  the  Delimitation  Commission  under 

section 42 2[or with the Election Commission 3[under section 43A or section 43C]];  

(b) “Delimitation Commission” means the Delimitation Commission constituted under section 3 

of 4[the Delimitation Act, 2002 (33 of 2002)];  

5[(bb) “Election Commission” means the Election Commission appointed by the President under 

article 324;]  

(c)  “latest  census  figures”  mean  the  census  figures  in  1[the  Union  territory]  ascertained  at  the 

latest census of which the finally published figures are available;  

(d)  “parliamentary  constituency”  means  a  constituency  provided  by  law  for  the  purpose  of 
elections to the House of the People from 1[the Union territory] including the Union territory of Delhi. 
39.  Assembly  constituencies.―For  the  purpose  of  elections  to  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  1[the 
Union  territory],  the  Union  territory  shall  be  divided  into  single-member  assembly  constituencies  in 
accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  Part  in  such  manner  that  the  population  of  each  of  the 
constituencies shall, so far as practicable, be the same throughout the Union territory. 

40. Representation of Pondicherry in the House of the People.―There shall be allotted one seat to 
the  Union  territory  of  Pondicherry  in  the  House  of  the  People  and  that  Union  territory  shall  form  one 
parliamentary constituency. 

41. Duties of Delimitation Commission.―(1) It shall be the duty of the Delimitation Commission— 

(a) to delimit the assembly constituencies in each Union territory, and 

(b) to determine, on the basis of the latest census figures, the number of seats to be reserved for 
the scheduled castes and for the scheduled tribes in the Legislative Assembly of 1[the Union territory] 

1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987).  
2. Ins. by Act 83 of 1971, s. 9 (w.e.f. 16-2-1972). 
3. Subs. by Act 29 of 1975, s. 7, for “under section 43A” (w.e.f. 15-8-1975). 
4. Subs. by Act 19 of 2005, s. 2, for “the Delimitation Commission Act, 1962 (61 of 1962)” (w.e.f. 21-5-2005). 
5. Ins. by Act 83 of 1971, s. 9 (w.e.f. 16-2-1972). 

18 

 
                                                           
other  than  the  Union  territory  of  Goa,  Daman  and  Diu,  and the  constituencies in  which these  seats 
shall be so reserved.  

(2) It shall also be the duty of the Delimitation Commission— 

(a)  to  readjust,  on  the  basis  of  the  latest  census  figures,  the  division  of  each  of  the  Union 
territories of Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura into parliamentary constituencies,  1[the 
number being 7, 4, 2 and 2];  

(b) to determine the constituency in which the seat shall be reserved for the scheduled castes or 

for the scheduled tribes, as the case may be; and  

(c) to divide the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu into two single-member parliamentary 

constituencies.  

42. Associate members.―(1) For the purpose of assisting the Delimitation Commission in its duties, 

the Delimitation Commission shall associate with itself,―  

(a)  in  respect  of  the  Union  territory  of  Delhi,  all  the  members  of  the  House  of  the  People 

representing that Union territory;  

(b) in respect of each of the Union territories of Himachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura, all the 
members  of  the  House  of  the  People  representing  that  Union  territory  and  three  members  of  the 
Legislative Assembly of that Union territory to be nominated by the Speaker of the Assembly from 
among the members thereof;  

(c) in respect of the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu, the two members of the House of the 

People representing that Union territory;  

(d) in respect of the Union territory of Pondicherry, three members of the Legislative Assembly 
of  that  Union territory  to  be  nominated  by  the  Speaker  of  the  Assembly  from  among  the  members 
thereof.  

(2) The nomination of members of the several Legislative Assemblies under sub-section (1) shall be 
made  by  the  respective  Speakers  thereof  as  soon  as  practicable  and  shall  be  communicated  to  the 
Delimitation Commission. 

(3) If owing to death or resignation the office of an associate member falls vacant, it shall be filled as 

soon as practicable under and in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this section.  

(4)  None  of  the  associate  members  shall  have  the  right  to  vote  or  to  sign  any  decision  of  the 

Delimitation Commission. 

43. Procedure as to delimitation.―The provisions of sections 7, 9, 10 and 11 of the Delimitation 
Commission  Act,  1962  (61  of  1962),  shall  apply,  as  far  as  may  be,  in  relation  to  the  delimitation  of 
parliamentary and assembly constituencies under this Part as they apply in relation to the delimitation of 
parliamentary and assembly constituencies under that Act. 

1. Subs. by Act 19 of 1966, s. 37, for “the total number thereof remaining the same” (w.e.f. 13-6- 1966). 

19 

 
                                                           
1[43A.  Special  provision 

for  delimitation  of  constituencies  of  Mizoram  Legislative 
Assembly.―(1) The provisions of sections 39 to 43 (both inclusive) shall not apply to the delimitation of 
constituencies for the purpose of elections to the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Mizoram.  

(2) The Election Commission shall, in the manner herein provided, distribute the seats assigned to the 
Legislative  Assembly  of  the  Union  territory  of  Mizoram  under  sub-section  (2)  of  section  3  to  single 
member assembly constituencies and delimit them on the basis of the latest census figures having regard 
to the provisions of the Constitution and to the following provisions:― 

 (a) all constituencies shall, as far as practicable, be geographically compact areas; 

 (b) in delimiting the constituencies, regard shall be had to physical features, existing boundaries 

of administrative units, facilities of communication and public convenience.  

(3) For the purpose of assisting in the performance of its functions under sub-section (2), the Election 

Commission shall associate with itself as associate members— 

(a) all the persons who, having been elected to the Legislative Assembly of the State of Assam 
from the Lungleh, Aijal East and Aijal West territorial constituencies, are members of that Assembly 
immediately  before  the  day  appointed  under  clause  (b)  of  section  2  of  the  North-Eastern  Areas 
(Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971); and  

(b)  such  three  elected  members  of  the  District  Council  of  the  Mizo  District  as  the  Chairman 

thereof may nominate:  

Provided that none of the associate members shall have a right to vote or sign any decision of the 

Election Commission.  

(4) If, owing to death or resignation, the office of an associate member falls vacant, it shall be filled, 

if practicable, in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (3).  

(5) The Election Commission shall— 

(a)  publish  its  proposals  for  the  delimitation  of  constituencies,  together  with  the  dissenting 
proposals, if any, of any associate member who desires publication thereof in the Official Gazette and 
in such other manner as the Commission may consider fit, together with a notice inviting objections 
and suggestions in relation to the proposals and specifying a date on or after which the proposals will 
be further considered by it;  

(b) consider all objections and suggestions which may have been received by it before the date so 

specified;  

(c) after consideration of objections and suggestions which may have been received by it before 
the date so specified, determine by one or more orders the delimitation of constituencies and cause 
such order or orders to be published in the Official Gazette; and upon such publication, the order or 
orders shall have the full force of law and shall not be called in question in any court.  

(6) The Election Commission may, from time to time, by notification in the Official Gazette,―  

1. Ins. by Act 83 of 1971, s. 10 (w.e.f. 16-2-1972).   

20 

 
                                                           
(a)  correct  any  printing  mistake  in  any  order  made  under  sub-section  (5)  or  any  error  arising 

therein from inadvertent slip or omission;  

(b) where the boundaries or name of any territorial division mentioned in any such order or orders 
are or is altered, make such amendments as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for bringing such 
order up-to- date.  

(7) Every order made under sub-section (5) and every notification issued under sub-section (6) shall 
be laid as soon as may be after it is made or issued before the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory 
of Mizoram.  

(8) All things done, and all steps taken, before the commencement of this Act in the Union territory of 
Mizoram  with  a  view  to  delimiting  the  territorial  constituencies  of  that  Union  territory  for  purposes  of 
elections to the Legislative Assembly of that Union territory shall, in so far as they are in conformity with 
the foregoing provisions of this section, be deemed to have been done or taken under those provisions as 
if those provisions were in force at the time such things were done or such steps were taken.]  

1[43B. Representation of Arunachal Pradesh in the House of the people.― In the House of the 
People to be constituted after the general election to that House to be held after the commencement of the 
Government  of  Union  Territories  (Amendment)  Act,  1975  (29  of  1975)  and  thereafter,  there  shall  be 
allotted two seats to the Union territory of Arunachal Pradesh and the First Schedule to the Representation 
of the People Act, 1950 (43 of 1950) shall be deemed to have been amended accordingly. 

43C. Special provisions for delimitation of parliamentary constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh 
and constituencies of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly.―(1) The provisions of sections 39 to 
43  (both  inclusive)  shall  not  apply  to  the  delimitation  of  parliamentary  constituencies  in  the  Union 
territory of Arunachal Pradesh or to the delimitation of constituencies for the purpose of elections to the 
Legislative Assembly of that Union territory.  

(2) The Election Commission shall divide the Union territory of Arunachal Pradesh into two single-

member parliamentary constituencies on the basis of the latest census figures.  

(3) The Election Commission shall also, in the manner herein provided, distribute the seats assigned 
to the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Arunachal Pradesh under sub-section (2) of section 
3  to  single-member  assembly  constituencies  and  delimit  them  on  the  basis  of  the  latest  census  figures 
having regard to the following provisions:― 

(a) all constituencies shall, as far as practicable, be geographically compact areas;  

(b)  every  assembly  constituency  shall  be  so  delimited  as  to  fall  only  within  one  parliamentary 

constituency;  

(c) in delimiting the constituencies, regard shall be had to physical features, existing boundaries 

of administrative units facilities of communication and public convenience.  

1. Ins. by Act 29 of 1975, s. 8 (w.e.f. 15-8-1975). 

21 

 
 
 
                                                           
(4) For the purpose of assisting in the performance of its functions under sub-sections (2) and (3), the 

Election Commission shall associate with itself as associate members— 

(a) the member of the House of the People representing the Union territory of Arunachal Pradesh;  

(b) such five members of the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Arunachal Pradesh 
as the Speaker of that Assembly shall, having regard to the composition of the Legislative Assembly, 
nominate:  

Provided  that  none  of  the  associate  members  shall  have  a  right  to  vote  or  sign  any  decision  of  the 

Election Commission.  

(5) If owing to death or resignation, the office of an associate member falls vacant, it shall be filled, if 

practicable, in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (4).  

(6) The Election Commission shall— 

(a)  publish  its  proposals  for  the  delimitation  of  constituencies  together  with  the  dissenting 
proposals, if any, of any associate member who desires publication thereof in the Official Gazette and 
in such other manner as the Commission may consider fit, together with a notice inviting objections 
and suggestions in relation to the proposals and specifying a date on or after which the proposals will 
be further considered by it;  

(b) consider all objections and suggestions which may have been received by it before the date so 

specified;  

(c) after consideration of objections and suggestions which may have been received by it before 
the date so specified, determine by one or more orders the delimitation of constituencies and cause 
such order or orders to be published in the Official Gazette; and upon such publication, the order or 
orders shall have the full force of law and shall not be called in question in any court.  

(7) The Election Commission may, from time to time, by notification in the Official Gazette,— 

(a)  correct  any  printing  mistake  in  any  order  made  under  sub-section  (6)  or  any  error  arising 

therein from inadvertent slip or omission;  

(b) where the boundaries or name of any territorial division mentioned in any such order or orders 
are or is altered, make such amendments as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for bringing such 
order up-to-date.  

(8) Every order made under sub-section (6) and every notification issued under sub-section (7) shall 
be laid as soon as may be after it is made or issued before the House of the People and the Legislative 
Assembly of the Union territory of Arunachal Pradesh.  

(9) All things done, and all steps taken, before the commencement of this Act in the Union territory of 
Arunachal  Pradesh  with  a  view  to  delimiting  the  territorial  constituencies  of  that  Union  territory  for 
purposes  of  elections  to  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  that  Union  territory  shall,  in  so  far  as  they  are  in 
conformity  with  the  foregoing  provisions  of  this  section,  be  deemed  to  have  been  done  or  taken  under 
those provisions as if these provisions were in force at the time such things were done or such steps were 
taken.]  

22 

 
1[43D. Special provision for determination of constituencies in the Legislative Assembly of Goa, 
Daman  and  Diu  for  Scheduled  Castes  and  Scheduled  Tribes.―(1)  The  Election  Commission  shall 
determine on the basis of the latest census figures— 

(i) the number of seats to be reserved for the Scheduled Castes and for the Scheduled Tribes in 
the  Legislative  Assembly  of  the  Union  territory  of  Goa,  Daman  and  Diu  (hereafter  in  this  section 
referred to as the Legislative Assembly) having regard to the provisions of sub-section (5) of section 
3; and  

(ii) the constituencies in which those seats shall be so reserved having regard to the provisions of 
clause (c), or, as the case may be, clause (d), of sub-section (1) of section 9 of the Delimitation Act 
and without altering the extent of any constituency as delimited by the Delimitation Commission.  

(2) The Election Commission shall— 

(a)  publish  its  proposals  for  the  determination  of  the  constituencies  in  which  seats  shall  be 
reserved for the Scheduled Castes or for the Scheduled Tribes, as the case may be, in the Gazette of 
India and in the Official Gazette of the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu and also in such other 
manner as the Election Commission may consider fit, together with a notice inviting objections and 
suggestions in relation to the proposals and specifying a date on or after which the proposals will be 
further considered by it;  

(b) consider all objections and suggestions which may have been received by it before the date so 

specified;  

(c) after consideration of objections and suggestions which may have been received by it before 
the  date  so  specified,  determine  by  one  or  more  orders  the  number  of  seats  to  be  reserved  for  the 
Scheduled Castes or for the Scheduled Tribes, as the case may be, in the Legislative Assembly and 
the  constituencies  in  which  those  seats  shall  be  so  reserved  and  cause  such  order  or  orders  to  be 
published in the Gazette of India and in the Official Gazette of the Union territory of Goa, Daman and 
Diu; and upon such publication in the Gazette of India, the order or orders shall have the full force of 
law and shall not be called in question in any court and the Second Schedule to the Representation of 
the People Act, 1950 (43 of 1950) and the order made by the Delimitation Commission under section 
9  of  the  Delimitation  Act  in  relation  to  the  Legislative  Assembly  shall  be  deemed  to  have  been 
amended accordingly.  

(3) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (4), the re-adjustment of representation of any territorial 
constituencies in the Legislative Assembly necessitated by any order made by the Election Commission 
under  this  section,  shall  apply  in  relation  to  every  election  to  the  Legislative  Assembly  held  after  the 
publication in the Gazette of India, under sub-section (2), of such order.  

(4) Nothing contained in the foregoing sub-sections shall affect the representation in the Legislative 
Assembly existing on the date of publication in the Gazette of India, under sub-section (2), of any order 
made by the Election Commission.  

1. Ins. by Act 86 of 1976, s. 3 (w.e.f. 30-9-1976).   

23 

 
                                                           
(5) The Election Commission may, from time to time, by notification in the Gazette of India and in 

the Official Gazette of the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu— 

(a)  correct  any  printing  mistake  in  any  order  made  under  sub-section  (2)  or  any  error  arising 

therein from inadvertent slip or omission;  

(b) where the boundaries or name of any territorial division mentioned in any such order are, or 
is, altered, make such amendments as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for bringing such order 
up-to-date.  

(6) Every order made under sub-section (2) and every notification issued under sub-section (5) shall 

be laid, as soon as may be, after it is made or issued before the Legislative Assembly.  

Explanation.―In this section,―  

(a) “Delimitation Act” means the Delimitation Act, 1972 (76 of 1972);  

(b) “Delimitation Commission” means the Delimitation Commission constituted under section 3 

of the Delimitation Act.] 

1[43E.  Special  provisions  as  to  readjustment  of  territorial  constituencies.―Notwithstanding 
anything contained in sections 38 to 43D (both inclusive), until the relevant figures for the first census 
taken after the year 2[2026] have been published, it shall not be necessary to readjust the division of each 
Union territory into territorial constituencies and any reference to the  “latest census figures” in this Part 
shall be construed as a reference to the 3[2001] census figures.] 

4[43F.  Special  provision  as  to  readjustment  of  territorial  constituencies  on  the  basis  of  2001 
census.―Notwithstanding  the  publication  of  orders  under  sub-section  (1)  of  section  10  of  the 
Delimitation Act, 2002 (33 of 2002) or anything contained in sub-section (2) or sub-section (4) of the said 
section,  any  readjustment  in  the  division  of  Union  territory  into  territorial  constituencies  by  the 
Delimitation Commission under the said Act, on the basis of 2001 census shall take effect from such date 
as  the  Central  Government  may,  by  order,  published  in  the  Official  Gazette,  specify  and  until  such 
readjustment  takes  effect,  any  election  to  the  Legislative  Assembly  may  be  held  on  the  basis  of  the 
territorial constituencies existing before such readjustment.] 

PART IV 

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS 

44. Council of Ministers.―(1) There shall be a Council of Ministers in each Union territory with the 
Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Administrator in the exercise of his functions in relation 
to matters with respect to which the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory has power to make laws 
except in so far as he is required by or under this Act to act in his discretion or by or under any law to 
exercise any judicial or quasi-judicial functions:  

1. Ins. by Act 19 of 1984, s. 3 (w.e.f. 1-3-1984). 
2. Subs. by Act 19 of 2005, s. 4, for “2000” (w.e.f. 21-5-2005). 
3. Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for “1971” (w.e.f. 21-5-2005).  
4. Ins. by Act 5 of 2006, s. 2 (w.e.f. 31-3-2005). 

24 

 
                                                           
Provided that, in case of difference of opinion between the Administrator and his Ministers on any 
matter, the Administrator shall refer it to the President for decision and act according to the decision given 
thereon  by  the  President,  and  pending  such  decision  it  shall  be  competent for the  Administrator in  any 
case where the matter is in his opinion so urgent that it is necessary for him to take immediate action, to 
take such action or to give such direction in the matter as he deems necessary:  

1*    
2* 

* 
* 

 *  
* 

*  
* 

* 
*  

(3) If and in so far as any special responsibility of the Administrator is involved under this Act, he 

shall, in the exercise of his functions, act in his discretion.  

(4)  If  any  question  arises  as  to  whether  any  matter  is  or  is  not  a  matter  as  respects  which  the 
Administrator is by or under this Act required to act in his discretion, the decision of the Administrator 
thereon shall be final.  

(5)  If  any  question  arises  as  to  whether  any  matter  is  or  is  not  a  matter  as  respects  which  the 
Administrator is required by any law to exercise any judicial or quasi-judicial functions, the decision of 
the Administrator thereon shall be final.  

(6) The question whether any, and if so what, advice was tendered by Ministers to the Administrator 

shall not be inquired into in any court.  

45. Other provisions as to Ministers.―(1) The Chief Minister shall be appointed by the President 

and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Chief Minister.  

(2) The Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the President.  

(3)  The  Council  of  Ministers  shall  be  collectively  responsible  to  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  the 

Union territory.  

(4) Before a Minister enters upon his office, the Administrator shall administer to him the oaths of 

office and of secrecy according to the forms set out for the purpose in the First Schedule.  

(5)  A  Minister  who  for  any  period  of  six  consecutive  months  is  not  a  member  of  the  Legislative 

Assembly of the Union territory shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a Minister.  

(6) The salaries and allowances of Ministers shall be such as the Legislative Assembly of the Union 
territory may from time to time by law determine, and until the Legislative Assembly so determines, shall 
be determined by the Administrator with the approval of the President. 

46. Conduct of business.―(1) The President shall make rules— 

(a) for the allocation of business to the Ministers; and  

(b) for the more convenient transaction of business with the Ministers including the procedure to 
be  adopted  in  the  case  of  a  difference  of  opinion  between  the  Administrator  and  the  Council  of 
Ministers or a Minister.  

1. The second proviso omitted by Act 34 of 1986, s. 41 (w.e.f. 20-2-1987). 
2. Sub-section (2) omitted by Act 69 of 1986, s. 44 (w.e.f. 20-2-1987). 

25 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                           
(2) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, all executive action of the Administrator, whether taken on 
the advice of his Ministers or otherwise, shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the Administrator.  

(3)  Orders  and  other  instruments  made  and  executed  in  the  name  of  the  Administrator,  shall  be 
authenticated  in  such  manner  as  may  be  specified  in  rules  to  be  made  by  the  Administrator,  and  the 
validity of an order or instrument which is so authenticated shall not be called in question on the ground 
that it is not an order or instrument made or executed by the Administrator.  

PART V 

MISCELLANEOUS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS 

47. Consolidated Fund of the Union territory.―(1) As from such date as the Central Government 
may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf, all  revenues received in  1[the Union 
territory] by the Government of India or the Administrator of the Union territory in relation to any matter 
with respect to which the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory has power to make laws, and all 
grants made and 2[all loans advanced to the Union territory from the Consolidated Fund of India and all 
loans raised by the Government of India or the Administrator of the Union territory upon the security of 
the  Consolidated  Fund  of  the  Union  territory]  and  all  moneys  received  by  the  Union  territory  in 
repayment of loans shall form one Consolidated Fund to be entitled “the Consolidated Fund of the Union 
territory”.  

(2) No moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of 1[the Union territory] shall be appropriated except in 

accordance with, and for the purposes and in the manner provided in, this Act.  

(3) The custody of the Consolidated Fund of 1[the Union territory], the payment of moneys into such 
Fund,  the  withdrawal  of  moneys  therefrom  and  all  other  matters  connected  with  or  ancillary  to  those 
matters shall be regulated by rules made by the Administrator with the approval of the President. 

3[47A. Public Account of the Union territory and moneys credited to it.―(1) As from such date 
as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf, all other 
public moneys received by or on behalf of the Administrator shall be credited to a Public Account entitled 
“the Public Account of the Union territory”. 

(2) The custody of public moneys, other than those credited to the Consolidated Fund of the Union 
territory or the Contingency Fund of the Union territory, received by or on behalf of the Administrator, 
their  payment  into  the  Public  Account  of  the  Union  territory  and  the  withdrawal  of  moneys  from  such 
account and  all  other  matters  connected  with  or  ancillary to the aforesaid matters shall be regulated by 
rules made by the Administrator with the approval of the President.] 

48. Contingency Fund of the Union territory.―(1) There shall be established a Contingency Fund 
in the nature of an imprest to be entitled “the Contingency Fund of the Union territory, into which shall be 
paid from and out of the Consolidated Fund of the Union territory such sums as may, from time to time, 

1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 
2.  Subs.  by  Act  38  of  2001,  s.  3,  for  “all  loans  advanced  to  the  Union  territory  from  the  Consolidated  Fund  of  India” 
 (w.e.f. 10-5-2006). 
3. Ins. by s. 4, ibid. (w.e.f. 10-5-2006).  

26 

 
                                                           
be determined by law made by the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory; and the said Fund shall be 
held by the Administrator to enable advances to be made by him out of such Fund.  

(2)  No  advances  shall  be  made  out  of  the  Contingency  Fund  of  the  Union  territory  except  for  the 
purposes of meeting unforeseen expenditure pending authorisation of such expenditure by the Legislative 
Assembly of the Union territory under appropriations made by law.  

(3)  The  Administrator  may  make  rules  regulating  all  matters  connected  with  or  ancillary  to  the 
custody of, the payment of moneys into, and the withdrawal of moneys from, the Contingency Fund of 
the Union territory. 

1[48A. Borrowing upon the security of the Consolidated Fund of the Union Territory.―(1) The 
executive  power  of the  Union  extends to  borrowing  upon  the  security  of  the  Consolidated  Fund  of  the 
Union territory within such limits, if any, as may, from time to time, be fixed by Parliament by law and to 
the giving of guarantees within such limits, if any, as may be so fixed: 

Provided that the powers exercisable by the Government of India under this sub-section shall also be 
exercisable by the Administrator subject to such conditions, if any, as the Government of India may think 
fit to impose. 

(2) Any sums required for the purpose of invoking a guarantee shall be charged on the Consolidated 

Fund of the Union territory. 

48B. Form of accounts of the Union territory.―The accounts of the Union territory shall be kept in 
such  form  as  the  Administrator  may,  after  obtaining  advice  of  the  Comptroller and  Auditor-General  of 
India and with the approval of the President, prescribe by rules.] 

49.  Audit  reports.―The  reports  of  the  Comptroller  and  Auditor-General  of  India  relating  to  the 
accounts of  2[the Union territory] for any period subsequent to the date referred to in sub-section (1) of 
section 47 shall be submitted to the Administrator who shall cause them to be laid before the Legislative 
Assembly of the Union territory. 

50. Relation of Administrator and his Ministers to President.― Notwithstanding anything in this 
Act,  the  Administrator  and  his  Council  of  Ministers  shall  be  under  the  general  control  of,  and  comply 
with such particular directions, if any, as may from time to time be given by, the President 

51.  Provision  in  case  of  failure  of  constitutional  machinery.―If  the  President,  on  receipt  of  a 

report from the Administrator of 2[the Union territory] or otherwise, is satisfied,―  

(a) that a situation has arisen in which the administration of the Union territory cannot be carried 

on in accordance with the provisions of this Act, or  

(b) that for the proper administration of the Union territory it is necessary or expedient so to do,  

the  President  may,  by  order,  suspend  the  operation  of  all  or  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  Act  for  such 
period as he thinks fit and make such incidental and consequential provisions as may appear to him to be 
necessary or expedient for administering the Union territory in accordance with the provisions of article 
239. 

1. Ins. by Act 38 of 2001, s. 5 (w.e.f. 10-5-2006). 
2. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987).  

27 

 
                                                           
1[52. Authorisation of expenditure by President.―Where the Legislative Assembly of  2[the Union 
territory]  is  dissolved,  or  its  functioning  as  such  Assembly  remains  suspended,  on  account  of  an  order 
under section 51, it shall be competent for the President to authorise when the House of the People is not 
in session expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of that Union territory pending the sanction of such 
expenditure by Parliament.] 

53. Provisions for election to Parliament from Goa, Daman and Diu, and Pondicherry.―(1) As 
soon as practicable after the commencement of this Act, elections shall be held in accordance with law―  

(a) to fill the seats in the House of the People allotted to the Union territory of Goa, Daman and 

Diu; and  

(b) to fill the seat in the House of the People and the seat in the Council of States allotted to the 

Union territory of Pondicherry.  

(2)  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  any  other  law  for  the  time  being  in  force,  the  members 
nominated  to  represent  the  Union  territory  of  Goa,  Daman  and  Diu  in  the  House  of  the  People  shall 
continue to be such until the election of the members to fill the two seats in that House allotted to that 
Union territory:  

Provided  that  where  the  dates  of  election  of  the  members  are  different,  the  members  so  nominated 

shall cease to be members of that House on the earlier of those two dates.  

Explanation.―In  this  sub-section,  the  expression  “date  of  election”  has  the  same  meaning  as  in 

section 67A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951).  

3[54. Transitional provisions for administration of justice in certain areas in the Union territory 
of Mizoram.―On and from the commencement of this Act in the Union territory of Mizoram and until 
other  provisions  in  this  behalf  are  made  by  a  competent  Legislature  or  other  competent  authority,  the 
administration of justice in those areas of that Union territory which are not comprised in any autonomous 
district under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution shall be carried on, so far as may be, in accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  paragraphs  4  and  5  of  that  Schedule,  as  if  those  areas  were  comprised  in  an 
autonomous district under that Schedule and the provisions of the said paragraphs were in force in those 
areas and for this purpose,― 

(i)  all  powers  and  functions  of  a  District  Council  under  the  provisions  of  the  said  paragraph  4 
shall be exercised and discharged by the Administrator or any officer appointed by him in this behalf;  

(ii)  the  said  paragraph  5  shall  have  effect  as  if  references  to  the  District  Council,  the  Regional 
Council  and  the  courts  constituted  by  the  District  Council,  by  whatever  form  of  words,  had  been 
omitted therefrom; and  

(iii) references to Governor in the said paragraphs 4 and 5 shall be construed as references to the 

Administrator.] 

1. Ins. by Act 1 of 1980, s. 2 (w.e.f. 25-9-1979).  
2. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987).  
3. Subs. by Act 83 of 1971, s. 12, for section 54 (w.e.f. 16-2-1972). 
28 

 
                                                           
1[54A.  Provision  as  to  provisional  Legislative  Assembly  of  Arunachal  Pradesh.―(1) 
Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  this  Act  (including  provisions  relating  to  the  strength  of  the 
Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Arunachal Pradesh), until the Legislative Assembly of the 
Union  territory  of  Arunachal  Pradesh  has  been  duly  constituted  and  summoned  to  meet  for  the  first 
session under and in accordance with the provisions of this Act, there shall be a provisional Legislative 
Assembly which shall consist of members, being those persons referred to in  clauses (b), (c) and (d) of 
section  3  of  the  North-East  Frontier  Agency  (Administration)  Supplementary  Regulation,  1971  
(4  of  1971)  and  who  are  functioning,  immediately  before  the  commencement  of  this  Act  in  the  Union 
territory of Arunachal Pradesh, as members of the Pradesh Council constituted under the said section 3.  

(2)  The  term  of  office  of  the  members  of  the  provisional  Legislative  Assembly  shall  expire 
immediately before the first meeting of the Legislative Assembly duly constituted after the first general 
election to that Assembly.  

(3) The provisional Legislative Assembly constituted under this section shall, for so long as it is in 
existence, be deemed to be the Legislative Assembly duly constituted under this Act and accordingly the 
other provisions of this Act, so far as may be, apply in relation to the provisional Legislative Assembly as 
they apply in relation to the Legislative Assembly.] 

55. Contracts and suits.―For the removal of doubts it is hereby declared that— 

(a) all contracts in connection with the administration of 2[the Union territory] are contracts made 

in the exercise of the executive power of the Union;  

(b) all suits and proceedings in connection with the administration of  2[the Union territory] shall 

be instituted by or against the Government of India. 

56. Power of President to remove difficulties.―If any difficulty arises in relation to the transition 
from the provisions of any of the laws repealed by this Act or in giving effect to the provisions of this Act 
and, in particular, in relation to the constitution of the Legislative Assembly for 3[the Union territory], the 
President may by order do anything not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act which appear to him 
to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of removing the difficulty. 

57. Amendment to certain enactments.―(1) The enactments specified in the Second Schedule―  

(a) shall, together with all rules, notifications and orders made or issued thereunder, extend to and 

come into force in the Union territories of Goa, Daman and Diu, and Pondicherry; and  

(b) shall be subject to the amendments mentioned in the fourth column of the said Schedule.  

(2) All things done, and all steps taken, before the commencement of this Act in connection with the 
preparation or revision of electoral rolls for the purpose of elections to the House of the People from the 
Union territories of Goa, Daman and Diu, and Pondicherry, and to the Legislative Assemblies of those 
Union territories shall, in so far as they are in conformity with the provisions of the Representation of the 
People Act, 1950 (43 of 1950), as amended by this Act, be deemed to have been done in accordance with 
law. 

1. Ins. by Act 29 of 1975, s. 10 (w.e.f. 15-8-1975). 
2. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 
3. Subs. by s. 65, ibid., for “any Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 

29 

 
                                                           
58. Repeal and savings.―(1) The following laws are hereby repealed:― 

(a) the Territorial Councils Act, 1956 (103 of 1956);  

(b) the Decree No. 46-2381, dated the 25th October, 1946, as subsequently amended, relating to 

the Representative Assembly of the State of Pondicherry;  

(c) the Decree No. 47-1490, dated the 12th August, 1947, as subsequently amended, relating to 

the setting up of a Council of Government in the State of Pondicherry;  

(d) the State of Pondicherry (Representation of the People) Order, 1955, in so far as it relates to 

the Representative Assembly of Pondicherry.  

(2) Notwithstanding the repeal of the Territorial Councils Act, 1956 (103 of 1956),― 

(a) every officer and other employee of the Territorial Council of  1[the Union territory] serving 
under  the  Council  immediately  before  such  repeal  shall  become  an  officer  or  other  employee  of 
Government and shall be employed in connection with the administration of the Union territory with 
such designation as the Administrator may determine and shall hold office by the same tenure and at 
the same remuneration and on the same terms and conditions of service as he would have but for such 
repeal held the same and shall continue to do so unless and until such tenure, remuneration and terms 
and conditions are duly altered by the Administrator:  

Provided that— 

(i)  the  tenure,  remuneration  and  terms  and  conditions  of  service  of  any  such  officer  or  other 
employee  shall  not  be  altered  to  his  disadvantage  without  the  previous  sanction  of  the  Central 
Government;  

(ii)  any  service  rendered  by  any  such  officer  or  other  employee  before  such  repeal  shall  be 

deemed to be service rendered in connection with the administration of the Union territory;  

(iii) the Administrator may employ any such officer or other employee in the discharge of such 
functions  as  the  Administrator  may  think  proper  and  every  such  officer  or  other  employee  shall 
discharge those functions accordingly;  

(b)  anything  done  or  any  action  taken  (including  any  notification,  order,  scheme,  rule,  form, 
notice or bye-law made or issued, any licence or permission granted) under the repealed Act shall in 
so far as it is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, continue in force unless  and until it is 
superseded by anything done or any action taken in accordance with law;  

(c)  all  debts,  obligations  and  liabilities  incurred,  all  contracts  entered  into  and  all  matters  and 
things engaged to be done by, with or for the Territorial Council before such repeal shall be deemed 
to have been incurred, entered into or engaged to be done in exercise of the executive power of the 
Union for the purposes of the administration of the Union territory;  

(d) all assessments, valuations, measurements or divisions made by the Territorial Council shall, 
in so far as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, continue in force unless and until 

1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 

30 

 
                                                           
they  are  superseded  by  any  assessment,  valuation,  measurement  or  division  made  by  the 
Administrator in accordance with law;  

(e) all properties, movable and immovable, and all interests of whatsoever nature and kind, vested 
in  the  Territorial  Council  immediately  before  such  repeal  shall,  with  all  rights  of  whatsoever 
description,  used,  enjoyed  or  possessed  by  that  Council,  vest  in  the  Union  for  the  purposes  of  the 
administration of the Union territory;  

(f)  all  rates,  taxes,  cesses,  fees,  rents,  fares  and  other  charges  which  immediately  before  such 
repeal were being lawfully levied by the Territorial Council shall continue to be levied at the same 
rate at which they were being levied by the Council immediately before such repeal until provision to 
the contrary is made by law;  

(g)  all  rates,  taxes,  cesses,  fees,  rents,  fares  and  other  charges  due  to  the  Territorial  Council 
immediately  before  such  repeal  shall  be  deemed  to  be  due  to  the  Union  in  connection  with  the 
administration of the Union territory;  

(h)  all  suits,  prosecutions  and  other  legal  proceedings  instituted  or  which  might  have  been 
instituted  by  or  against  the  Territorial  Council  may  be  continued  or  instituted  by  or  against  the 
Government of India.  

31 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE FIRST SCHEDULE 

[See sections 4 (a), 11 and 45 (4)] 

FORMS OF OATHS OR AFFIRMATIONS 

I 

FORM OF OATH OR AFFIRMATION TO BE MADE BY A CANDIDATE FOR  
ELECTION TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 

“I,  A.B.,  having  been  nominated  as  a  candidate  to  fill  a  seat  in  the  Legislative  Assembly  

of  

 that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law 

established and that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India.”  

II 

FORM OF OATH OR AFFIRMATION TO BE MADE BY A MEMBER OF THE  
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF 1[THE UNION TERRITORY] 

“I,  A.B.,  having  been  elected  (or  nominated)  a  member  of 

the  Legislative  Assembly 

of  

 that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law 

established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India and that I will faithfully discharge the 
duty upon which I am about to enter.”  

III 

FORM OF OATH OF OFFICE FOR A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS  
OF 1[THE UNION TERRITORY] 

“I, A.B., 

 that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India 

as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, that I will faithfully and 
conscientiously  discharge  my  duties  as  a  Minister  for  the  Union  territory  of---------,  and  that  I  will  do 
right  to  all  manner  of  people  in  accordance  with  the  Constitution  and  the  law  without  fear  or  favour, 
affection or ill-will.” 

IV 

FORM OF OATH OF SECRECY FOR A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF  
MINISTERS OF 1[THE UNION TERRITORY] 

“I, A.B., 

 that I will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal to any 

person or persons any matter which shall be brought under my consideration or shall become known to 
me as a Minister for the Union territory of --------, except as may be required for the due discharge of my 
duties as such Minister.” 

1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 

32 

 
                           
               
                           
               
                           
               
                           
               
 
                                                           
THE SECOND SCHEDULE  

(See section 57)  

ENACTMENTS AMENDED  

Year  Number 

Short  title 

(1) 

1950 

(2) 

43 

(3) 

The Representation of 
the People Act, 1950 

Amendments 

(4) 

In section 4, in sub-section (1), the words “to Goa, Daman and Diu” shall 

be omitted. 

In section 13B, in sub-section (1), for the words “1[the Union territory]”, 

the words “the Union territory of Delhi” shall be substituted.  

In  section  13D,  in  sub-sections  (1)  and  (2),  for  the  words  “1[the  Union 
territory]”,  the  words  “the  Union  territory  of  Delhi”  shall  be 
substituted.  

In section 27A,― 

 (i) sub-section (2) shall be omitted; 

(ii) for sub-section (4), the following sub-section shall be substituted, 

namely:― 

“(4)  The  electoral  college  for  each  of  the  Union  territories  of 
Himachal  Pradesh,  Manipur,  Tripura  and  Pondicherry  shall 
consist  of  the  elected  members  of  the  Legislative  Assembly 
constituted for that territory under the Government of Union 
territories Act, 1963.” 

In the First Schedule,― 

(i)  after  the  entry  “24.  Goa,  Daman  and  Diu……2”,  the  entry  “25. 
Pondicherry…….1”  shall  be  inserted  and  the  existing  entry 
relating to North-East Frontier Tract shall be renumbered as entry 
26; 

(ii) for the total, the following total shall be substituted, namely:― 

“Total……………………………………………………..508”. 

In  the  Second  Schedule,  after  entry  15  relating  to  Nagaland,  the 

following entries shall be inserted, namely:― 

“16. Himachal Pradesh………………………………….40 

17. Manipur..…………………………………………….30 

18.Tripura………………………………………………30 

19. Goa, Daman and Diu.………………………………30 

20. Pondicherry.………………………………………..30” 

The Fifth Schedule shall be omitted.  

1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 65, for “a Union territory” (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 

33 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                           
Year  Number 

Short title 

(1) 

1951 

(2) 

43 

(3) 

The Representation of 
the People Act, 1951 

1956 

37 

The States 
Reorganisation Act, 
1956 

Amendments 

(4) 

In section 4, the words “to Goa, Daman and Diu” shall be omitted. 

In section 15, in sub-section (2),― 

(i)  for  the  words  “the  Governor”,  the  words  “the  Governor  or 

Administrator, as the case may be” shall be substituted; 

(ii) in the proviso, the  words  and figures  “or under the  provisions of 
section  5  of  the  Government  of  Union  Territories  Act,  1963,  as 
the case may be” shall be added at the end. 

In  section  32,  the  words  and  figures  “or  under  the  provisions  of  the 
Government  of  Union  Territories  Act,  1963,  as  the  case  may  be,” 
shall be added at the end. 

In section 36, in clause (a) of sub-section (2),― 

(i) the word “and” occurring after the figures “191” shall be omitted; 

(ii)  for  the  words  and  figure  “Part  II  of  this  Act”,  the  words  and 
figures  “Part  II  of  this  Act,  and  sections  4  and  14  of  the 
Government of Union territories Act, 1963” shall be substituted.  

In section 55, the words and figures “or under the Government of Union 
Territories Act, 1963, as the case may be,” shall be added at the end.  

In section 100, in clause (a) of sub-section (1), after the words “this Act”, 
the  words  and  figures  “or  the  Government  of  Union  Territories  Act, 
1963,” shall be inserted. 

In section 15 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956,― 

(i)  in  clause  (d),  after  the  words  “Maharashtra”,  the  words  “and  the 
Union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Goa, Daman and 
Diu” shall be inserted; 

(ii) in clause (e), after the words “Kerala”, the words “and the Union 

territory of Pondicherry” shall be inserted.   

34 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
